Apple confirms that the T2 chip will block some third party repairs

Apple confirmed yesterday that the new T2 security chip, which it uses in MacBooks released this year, will prevent third party repairs to some extent.

In response to a request from The Verge, the company verified that parts such as the logic board and Touch ID components for the new MacBooks can not be replaced by a third party repair shop – so you must visit an authorized Apple service center for to get laptops fixed. However, this did not confirm whether this applies to last year's iMac Pro-T2 chip's first host.

Details of Apple's new chip-blocking third-party fixes discovered last month when Motherboards and MacRumors got their hands on an internal document. It is suggested that a special software package ̵

1; available only for authorized service centers – will check if the replaced parts are authentic.

"(T2 is) a guillotine like [Apple is] keeps (over product owners)" Sa iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens. "It's very possible the goal is to exercise greater control over who can perform repairs by limiting access to parts. This could be an attempt to gain more market share from the independent repair providers. Or, it may be a threat to retain their authorized networking in line. We just do not know. "

The new piece's job is to make the boot process and touch ID more secure. So it makes sense that Apple prevents unauthorized stores from replacing critical parts. However, it is unclear whether the T2 chip also limits replacements for more common parts such as monitor, speaker and keyboard.

Apple does not seem to have enabled third party repair block yet. In an experiment, iFixit could replace the screen, logic board and Touch Bar in a new MacBook Pro using components from a MacBook Pro purchased this summer. Apple confirmed The Verge that a configuration software is not required to validate screen shifts. Of course, the company can turn the switch to this at any time.

Meanwhile, Apple tries to make certain component repairs less painful. According to a report from MacRumors, it's now easier than ever to replace the battery on the new MacBook Air.

The company is currently fighting for "right to repair" legislation in the United States, which will require hardware companies to repair repair parts, repair guides, tools and diagnostic software that are publicly available.

The problem of preventing third-party repairs does not only affect the cost of ownership of its products, but it can also spell problems for service centers outside the company's network. But if the replacement limit is on a few parts, it will probably not ruin the neighborhood's store. We have to wait and see if more common repairs are limited by the T2 chip.